The Pennsylvania Parole Board has denied Bill Cosby’s parole, Deadline confirmed on Thursday. Cosby has been incarcerated at Pennsylvania’s State Correctional Institution at SCI Phoenix located in Collegeville for nearly three years after being convicted for drugging and sexually assaulting former Temple University employee Andrea Constand in 2004. He was sentenced to serve three to 10 years in prison.
“Following an interview with you and a review of your file, and having considered all matters required pursuant to the parole board, in the exercise of its discretion, has determined at this time that: you are denied parole/reparole,” read the board’s letter addressed to Cosby. One of the reasons for Cosby’s denial include his refusal to complete a sex offender treatment program; thus, the 83-year-old actor-comedian received a negative recommendation from the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections.
The complete list of reasons behind the board’s decision was listed as follows, via documents obtained by Deadline:
YOUR NEED TO PARTICIPATE IN AND COMPLETE ADDITIONAL INSTITUTIONAL PROGRAMS.
THE NEGATIVE RECOMMENDATION MADE BY THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS.
YOUR FAILURE TO DEVELOP A PAROLE RELEASE PLAN.
YOU ARE TO BE REVIEWED UPON COMPLETION OF PROGRAMMING AS INDICATED BY RECENT DOC ASSESSMENT.
AT YOUR NEXT INTERVIEW, THE BOARD WILL REVIEW YOUR FILE AND CONSIDER:
WHETHER YOU HAVE SUCCESSFULLY PARTICIPATED IN/SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED A TREATMENT PROGRAM FOR SEX OFFENDERS AND VIOLENCE PREVENTION.
WHETHER YOU HAVE RECEIVED A FAVORABLE RECOMMENDATION FOR PAROLE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS.
WHETHER YOU HAVE MAINTAINED A CLEAR CONDUCT RECORD.
“The news that actor and comedian Bill Cosby’s parole has been ‘denied’ by the Pennsylvania State Parole Board is not a surprise to Mr. Cosby, his family, his friends and/or his legal team,” Cosby’s spokesperson Andrew Wyatt said in a statement.
Though Cosby’s legal team has failed to win their client early release due to the coronavirus risks, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court did grant Cosby’s request to appeal his 2018 conviction back in June 2020. The state’s highest court has not yet confirmed its decision on the appeal hearing, which was conducted virtually in December.
DISCUSSION
The failure to complete sex offender specific treatment is enough to deny parole. The rest is just BS. Failure to have a release plan? He’s fucking Bill Cosby and still has millions in the bank and a home. Release plans for those that have no money, no job, and no family.
The institutional programs probably would not apply to Cosby unless he is a drug addict or has mental health issues (I am not going down that rabbit hole) that impair his functioning in daily life. He certainly does not need his GED or workforce skills.
He is 83 years old. What the fuck is he supposed to do?
I am not stanning for Cosby or advocating for his release. I am simply pointing out that the Penn Parole Board, like most parole boards, are full of shit. There is also some liability in regard to participation in SOST because participation and completion of treatment requires that the offender admits to his/her crime. Cosby pled not guilty and as such cannot be forced into admission. It’s kinda a Catch-22. So, he will never be paroled because he cannot complete treatment; he cannot complete treatment because he will never admit.